The Forefront of Living Environment
Under Jiokgo there is Jiokbangchon
Reporter Kim Han-deul
sswante88@naver.com
Providing and ensuring a safe and secure living environment should be guaranteed by the government, however the reality is gloomy. Some people live in rooms with no windows for air circulation, some live in rooms that are barely soundproofed which causes significant discomfort, and some have to share a bathroom with over twelve people regardless of gender. For the improvement of one's quality of life what are the actions taken by the state and what action needs to be taken is looked at.
The rising cost of inflation, and fixed prices for food, clothing, and housing is putting a major strain on workers. Without some sort of aid, it could be a burden on citizens, especially those in less secure situations. One's house is where one goes to bed, recovers, then gets ready to welcome the next day. One's home is the source of life and where one comes back from work at the end of the day. Housing supporting newlyweds, young people, multicultural families, North Korean defectors, and those in the low-income bracket does exist. However if we focus on the people who live in Jjokbangchon, meaning the area of small rooms for housing, the majority of the residents are old and have no family connections. On average, people reside in these rooms for around eleven to twelve years. In South Korea, there is the term Jiokgo, a neologism for representing the poor housing bracket. 'Ji' is from the first letter of the Korean word Jihabang, which refers to a room located half underground. 'Ok' is from the first letter of the Korean word Oktapbang, which means rooftop house. 'Go' is the first letter of the Korean word Gosiwon. Gosiwon used to be a place where people stayed and prepared for government examinations. However, after the 1997 Asian financial crisis and population shift to Seoul, Gosiwons slowly changed from a place where one prepares for a test to where the urban poor live. All these three places have very poor living conditions. Believe it or not, there is even a term for those living below the standard of Jiokgo, namely Jjokbangchon. This shows how living condition stabilization needs more attention from the government and the nation. The problem with Jjokbangchon is that even though there is no deposit needed, the price per unit area of Jjokbangchon is as expensive as some areas in Seoul. It is an example of a poverty business. Government restrictions on businesses run towards the poor in society and their living environment needs to be looked at. Social surveillance is needed closely in the living environment.